Radioplayer Launches With 157 Stations

Radioplayer, a BBC-backed iPlayerâ€“like radio aggregation site has launched with a mix of live streaming and on-demand content from the BBC and commercial stations.
As we reported earlier this month, Radioplayer was initially due to launch last December but it has now finally gone online and will offer listeners a chance to hear content from 157 stations in one place. Radioplayer will be embedded as a pop-up on each of the stationâ€™s websites and while initially only available on the net, it is expected that iPhone and iPad versions will be available by the end of 2011. While 157 station are available now, well over 200 will be available shortly with the likes of talksSPORT, Magic and Kerrang joining the party next week.
With the BBC also involved in the YouView project which is currently in development hell, if that project does go ahead then it is likely that Radioplayer will also have a presence on the platform. While Ofcom-licensed stations will be the only ones allowed to join initially, Radioplayer could soon be open to independent and community stations around the country.

4.7million people listen to the radio via the internet every week which represents only 3.1 percent of all radio listenership. This means there is a huge potential for growth in the market and Andrew Harrison, chief executive of Radioplayer believes the new service will attract 3 million listeners in its first week, adding: â€œEvery station on Radioplayer will be one click away from every other station, and listeners will have the ability to search the whole of UK radio, discovering exciting new content.â€